ATP measurements obtained by luminometry provide rapid estimation of Ureaplasma urealyticum growth

Abstract

ATP content obtained by luciferin-luciferase luminometry with commercially available reagents provided rapid estimates of Ureaplasma urealyticum populations. Each cell contained about 4.7 x 10-18 mol of ATP. We could detect 104 CCU50 (color change unit50) per 100 μl. We correlated urease activity with growth and confirmed the differential response of ureaplasma strains to Mn2+.